Giovanna had given
her husband none but daughters; she, too, was in delicate health and
might die without a son being born. What then? Why, of course, Francesco
would marry Bianca Buonaventuri, and by her secure the succession.
Whether he was destined for the Papacy or not, the Grand Duchy was his
by inheritance, and it behoved him, they said, to guard his rights and
further his expectations!

Ferdinando listened to this tittle-tattle and it caused ambitious
distrust of Francesco and Bianca. As heir-presumptive to a temporal
sovereignty, he began to surround himself with all the attributes and
circumstances of his position. His palace was regal in its magnificence,
his entertainments were upon a princely scale, and he assumed an
overbearing demeanour in his relations with Francesco.

Instigated by inveterate intriguers in his entourage, he quite
hypocritically affected to be shocked at his brother's _liaison_ with
Bianca, although he made no demur at his father's relations with
Eleanora degli Albizzi, Cammilla de' Martelli, and other _innamorate_.
Giovanna was only too delighted to have the invaluable assistance of the
young Cardinal in her campaign against "the hated Venetian." At length
he took the bold step of expostulating with Francesco upon his
intercourse with the captivating rival of Giovanna. The Prince was
furious, and warned his brother never to name the subject again, and on
no account to meddle with his private affairs.

Ferdinando replied that he was quite content to abstain at a price. The
truth was, that his lavish extravagance had exhausted his revenue and
restricted his powers of borrowing, and he was in lack of funds for the
maintenance of his state in Rome.

In a weak moment Francesco gave heed to Ferdinando's stipulations, and
provided him with funds and increased his family allowance. In
gratitude, the Cardinal threw into his brother's teeth the fact of his
position as heir-presumptive, and insisted upon the purchase of a piece
of land at the confluence of the Pesa with the Arno. There he built his
Villa Ambrogiana, which became the seat of an anti-Francesco cabal and
the headquarters of an elaborate system of paid spies and toadies.

* * * * *

In September 1571, Francesco issued a decree which ennobled the family
of Bianca's husband, and Ser Zenobio, unambitious, pottering notary that
he was, and Pietro, and all their male kith and kin, were enrolled
"_inter